The family of an eight-year-old girl killed when a car crashed into an end-of-term tea party at a prep school have said she was “adored and loved by everyone.” Selena Lau died after a Land Rover crashed through the fence and into a building at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, south-west London on Thursday morning.
Paying tribute, her family also described her as an “intelligent” and “cheeky” girl. Issuing a picture of her beaming in her school uniform, they said in a brief statement through the Metropolitan Police: “Selena was an intelligent and cheeky girl adored and loved by everyone.
“The family wishes their privacy to be respected at this sad time.” Another eight-year-old girl is in a “life-threatening” condition in hospital while a woman in her 40s remains in a critical condition.
The driver, a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been bailed pending further inquiries to a date later this month. She was taken to hospital and her condition was assessed as not life-threatening.
Several other people – including a seven-month-old girl – were also taken to hospital and their conditions have been assessed as not life-threatening, the Met said. The injured adults were parents or carers and not staff at the school, the force added.
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local policing commander for south-west London, said: “It is difficult to imagine the pain and upset the families of those involved are going through and we will do all we can to support them as our investigation continues. I know the impact of this tragic incident is also being felt in the wider community and we are working with our partners to ensure the appropriate support is in place.
“I understand many people will want answers about how this happened and there is a team of detectives working to establish the circumstances.”
